Development of a seedling screening test for predicting relative grain protein content in oats

Abstract

A vena sativa, chlorophyll content, leaf color, leaf thickness, senescence, protein breeding programs. SUMMARYGrowth room experiments were conducted to study associations of grain protein content with properties of seedling leaf sections of oats (Arena sativa L.) using (1) 10 cultivars differing genetically in grain protein, and (2) 10 populations of a single high protein cultivar (Hinoat) differing phenotypically in grain % protein. These populations, which were derived from a nitrogen fertilizer experiment, had grain protein concentrations which varied over the whole range displayed by the high and low protein cultivars when the latter were tested in a conventional field trial.Seedling leaf % protein was closely associated with grain ~ protein in both (1) and (2). Chlorophyll content per unit leaf area and leaf dry weight per unit leaf area were significantly higher in the high than in the low protein cultivars, and were significantly higher in all the Hinoat populations than in the low protein cultivars.Excised seedling leaf sections were placed on filter paper moistened with 1 ppm kinetin solution and kept in the dark at 25 °C. After 96 h chlorophyll content per unit leaf area was again significantly higher in the high protein cultivars and in all the Hinoat populations than in the low protein cultivars, and the consequent differences in leaf colour were then readily visible. Absolute amounts of chlorophyll lost per unit leaf area were similar in all cultivars and populations, but the low protein cultivars showed a greater proportional loss (as ~ of initial content). A colour scale was used to visually rate the senesced leaf sections. The visual rating allowed the rapid separation of the high and low protein cultivars, and there was no significant variation in the ratings of the Hinoat populations.

Factors affecting genotypic and environmental variance for crude protein content in cereals

“…Breeding for increased grain protein content is relatively difficult because of the large number of analyses involved and because grain protein content is influenced greatly by environmental conditions (HOLMES & BURROWS, 1976). The probability of success in a breeding program would be enhanced if screening were done under conditions maximizing genotypic variance and minimizing environmental variance.…”

Effects of maneb fungicide on seed yield and protein content of oat cultivars

“…Oat cultivars vary in response to applications of nitrogen fertilizer with respect to protein content (8,15,19). Protein content of seed usually is negatively associated with seed yield (14,18) and cultivars that produce a high percent protein, such as Hinoat, yield less grain than most commercial cultivars (7,8). However the negative relationship between yield and percent protein may not be as great in oats as in other cereals (14).…”

“…It has been shown (17) that commercial oat cultivars vary in grain protein content and that high levels occur in wild oat species (10,13). Several oat breeding programs have utilized cultivars high in protein, as parents, to increase protein content (5,8,13,18). The environment in which oat cultivars are grown can account for wide fluctuations in protein content, but groups of cultivars usually rank similarly from year to year (8,12,16).…”

“…The environment in which oat cultivars are grown can account for wide fluctuations in protein content, but groups of cultivars usually rank similarly from year to year (8,12,16). Oat cultivars vary in response to applications of nitrogen fertilizer with respect to protein content (8,15,19). Protein content of seed usually is negatively associated with seed yield (14,18) and cultivars that produce a high percent protein, such as Hinoat, yield less grain than most commercial cultivars (7,8).…”

“…Several oat breeding programs have utilized cultivars high in protein, as parents, to increase protein content (5,8,13,18). The environment in which oat cultivars are grown can account for wide fluctuations in protein content, but groups of cultivars usually rank similarly from year to year (8,12,16). Oat cultivars vary in response to applications of nitrogen fertilizer with respect to protein content (8,15,19).…”